Well elevator



Nov. 18, 1930. AN'T 1,781,922

WELL ELEVATOR Original Filed Jan. 11, 1923" 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mil Nov. 18,1930. I isRA'N 1,781,922

WELL ELEVATOR Original Filed Jan. 11, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR/ 1 1" I/2' BY I v l v M 1 ATTORNEY.

I Patented Nov. 18, 1930 JOHN emr, or nos mantis, canrroanm, assrenon, m nssrezmnnrs,

BYRON JACKSON 00., OF BERKELEY, CALIFORN1A, A CORPORATION. OF DELA- wean WE'LL nnnvn'roa Application filed sa utar 11, 1923, Serial No. 611,978. new s, 192a.

This invention relates to well elevators,

broadly stated, whether'or not said elevator is useful for liftin casin tubing OBxI'OdS. Said invention has or' an o ject the provision --ofan elevator which ensures that the casing, tubin or rods, as the case may be, are secure-.

' ly loc ed within the elevator when the elevator .is'in operation. The invention has for a further object the provision: of an elevator which' will'positively indicate if 'worksto be carried b said elevator is not securely. held within t e elevator. A her object is the provision of a well elevator which may a be automatically disengaged from the bail.

when the elevator is moved in a given direction, with full assurance that the baiL will -"remainsecure to the elevator when the elevator is sustaining aload. I The invention has for further objects the provision of a well elevator which is novel in construction, has few working parts, is posioration.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists struction and arrangemen of various parts,

- tive-inits operation, and fool-proofas to op:

members and features, all as shown in the drawings, described generally, and -finally pointed out in claims.

Inthe'di'awingsr I Fi re 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of one orin of, the well elevator;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the well elevator shown in Figure 1, certain parts being in section to show the construction thereof, and with the tubing removed from between the gate andthe body of the V elevator; 1 'I 9 Figure 3.is a fra entary cross sectional view on an enlarge scale, of certain means forcooperation with the elevator shown in 1 and 2 for maintaining the bail or suspension means in engagement with said elevator; y Figure 4 isa modified form of the means I shtin wn re t t igure" 1s a agmen ary vlew, cer am parts being section, of a slightly-modified form of 'well elevator and showing the latch 56 mechanism inoperative;

close I ings and particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inimihe provision, con- -body in the embodiment shown is provided 4, 5, 63nd 7, and-the suspension means or present invention resides in the method by which the bail dis retained upon and held Figure 6 is a fra entary View of the well elevator shown in igure 5, the latch mechanism being shown in part ins dotted lines to show the locking of the gate to thebodyofithe. elevator; 1 5| Figure 7 is a fragmentary ed e view of the elevator shown in Figure 6, an taken on the -.line 7-7 ofFigure 6, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows; i Figure 8 is a fragmentary view upon an enlarged scale of themechanism' shown in Fi ures sand 6 for locking tlielatch mechanism Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the means shown in Figure '8; and, Figure 10 is a fragmentary view partly in section of additional means between the body i of, the well elevator and the gate for swinging the gate from the body when the latch mechanism fails to function. Y

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters. Referring with particularity to the drawed t9 confine worksuch as tubing, casing or rods, as shown at c in Figure 1. The with. diametrically opposed spaced arms bails d'lare' associated with the arms 4 and 6, as shown at .8 and 9. Ordinaril the well elevator- A might be described y saying 99 thatfatlie same comprises two wings or ]8.WS whioh are adapted to latch around said casing,.i tubing or rods with the bails fitting 1 over the casing hooksl One feature of the to the body. of the well elevator. If the arms 4 and 5, and 6 and 7 .are left spaced a art the suspensionmeans or bail might slip rom said arms .with dismous results. I there fore provide movably mounted means 6 which is adapted toclose the gap that exists between each pair of s aced arms. In particular themeans e, which two are provided, are carried by the arms and by being pivoted thereto, as shown at 10 and 11. In this respect it is to be noted that the arms 5 and 7 are bifurcated as shown at. 12 and 13 and that the movably mounted means e is carried between said bifurcations. The arms 4 and '6 are each recessed, as shown at 14, and the means e includes a finger 15, an end portion of which is adapted to be received within the recessed portion 14. The means e likewiseis provided-with an enlargement 16 and is bored as at 17 at the zone of juncture of the enlargement 16 and the finger 15. The means 6 is also provided with an eccentric portion or groove 18 opening outwardly from the bore17. A pivot pin 19 is in part rectangular in configuration as shown at 20, and when the finger is within the recess 14 the angular portion 20 is in part receivable within the groove 18. It will thus follow that the finger 15 is locked within the recessed portion 14 and that said finger cannot be moved from the recess 14 until the means e is lifted upwardly so that the member 20 may be relievedfrom the groove 18 whereupon the means may be pivoted and swung downwardly to where the finger is received within a-channel or groove 21 the respective one ofthe arms 5 and 7. The part 16 ofthe means 6 is of much heavier con= struction or ,weighted so as to be drawn downwardly under influence of gravity to swing the means e about its pivot point. so that the finger 15 ma normally look and close the gap between the rmsgt and 5, or 6 and 7, as the case may be. If the elevator is moved downwardly to a position where the same would contact with the floor, the parts 16 of the means 6 would be hit and this would first.

' lift the means 0 and free the rectangular portion.20 from the groove 18 and then pivot the finger 15 downwardly so that thebail or suspension means (l might be disengaged from the arms 4 or -6. It will thus be seen that this disengagement of the bail is, in a measure automatic upon moving'the elevator in av given direction so that means 6 of the elevator may contact with some object, suchas the floor or the derrick. It is obvious that the means 0 may be operated manually or otherwise. f

Means f are provided for releasably hold ing the body a and gate 6 in work-embracing relatlon. The means 7 is so constructed and operates in such .a manner as to kick the so gate open providing the gate is not securely latched to theelevator body. It frequently occurs when operating wellelevators that the gate is not locked to the body with the result that upon hoisting, the gate swings open sud-- denly dropping the casing or tubing, causing ure 2 the means 7' comprises a pivoted latch disastrous results either to the operator or to the derrick floor. It has been found expedient to so arrangeand relatively associate the moving members which comprise the gate and body, that an improper latching of said 'members will result in the gate immediately being thrown open so that no mistake as to the latching may be made on the part of the operator. In the embodiment shown'in Figmember 22 which is associated with an enlargement upon the bOdYJZ and within a recess in said enlargement and constitutes an abutment on the body at one side of and adjacent the mouth of the casing receiving recess 1 of the body. The pivot point, is shown at 23 and a stop pin at 24 for limit ng movement of the latch 22 in one direction. The latch 22 is provided with a curved portion 25, and a spring 26 within the recess of the enlargement is adapted to be received in part within a bore 27 in the latch and held to a .wall of the enlargement at its opposite end, said spring acting to move the latch outward- 1y from said recess. The gate member 6 car- 9c ries a nose 28 which is curved corresponding ly with the curve 25 of the latch 22. When the parts are in the position shown in-Figure 2 it will be observed that the curvedportions of the nose and of the latcltcooperate to efi'ect a locking engagement between the body a through the medium of the latch and Y the gate 6. To release the latch 22 from its locking engagement with the nose 28 means 29 are provided, said means being joined with 1 the latch 22. An outward pull upon the means 29 will swing the latch inwardly against the spring 26 so that the nose- 28 may:

be released from the latch. The gate 6 may' then be swung open by pulling upon a handle 30 associated therewith. Assume now that it is desired to use the elevator Ato' carry the casing a. The elevator is'brought into posi: tion so that the casing c isreceived within thebody 'a at the part 1 andthe gate is swung inwardly to lock the casing or work within the body. :The gate, however, unless itis properly latched will be swung open in the construction shown, for the 'following reasons? The nose 28 is curved as shown at 31 and this curved portion will engage a marginal portion as 32 of the latch 22. The latch 22 at all times is urged to the limit of its movement by the spring 26, and a swinging of the gate 6 inwardly will cause the curved portion 31 of-the nose 28 toslide along the marginal portion 32. If the tip of the nbse 28 reaches a point where it would contact with thecurved portion 25 of the latch 22 the latch will immediately be-thrown into such a position a'sto engage the nose and lock the gate about its pivot point 3 to anopen position.

A modified form of the means 0 is shown in Figure 4 and is designated as g, and said means includes a finger 33 and an enlargement 34. The enlar ement 34 is rovided with a webbing 35iwhich is adapts to contact with an object for swinging the device about a point at 36. The means 9 is not provided with the locking arrangement shown for the means e, but is adapted when used to hold the finger 33within the recess 14- by action of gravity-upon the enlargement 34. In other particulars the device is similar.

The elevator shown in Figures 5 to 10 inelusive does not difieg essentially in principle from the elevator shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, although certain featuresare incorporated in a slightly different manner for effecting .the kicking-operation. The elevator shown in Figures5 to 10 inclusive is designated as an entirety by. B, the body by h and the gate by '7' and the latch mechanism as an entirety by It, The bod as in the case of the elevator A is recesse as shown at 7 and the gate j is {slightly recessed in part as shown at 38 to cooperate .with the recessed portion 37 so that the gate and the body may or swing. the

. confine work when the gate-is elesed. The

gate 7' is pivotally carried upon a body by suitable mearis such as shown at 39. The

usual extension arms are associated with'the body it and may be of a form such as shown for the elevator A, the bail being omitted for purposes of clearness. The body It is recessed asshown by the dotted lines at 40 and the gate member j has, its normal free end 41 receivable within said recess when the gate is closed. The gate carries part of the latch 40 mechanism; that is to say, the member 42.

- Reference to Figure 7 shows that the gate is furcated as shown at 43 with the latch 42 pivotally carried as shown at 44 between said furcations 4.3. Said latch 42 is curved along it free marginal portion 45 and likewise provided with an arm 46, there being a spring 47 hearing against said arm and having a por-. tion thereof confined within a recess or bore in the gate, asshown at 48. To limit the inward -movement or pivot movement of the latch 42 under pressure exerted by the spring the gate is provided with a slight extension 49 carrying a pin 50 adapted to contact with the arm 46. The recess within the body It shown at 40 has anabutmentportiom51 curved to correspondto the curve 45 of the latch so that when the latch swings outwardly and under urgency of the spring, the gate-being closed, the curved portion of said latch will slide along the correspondingly curved portion 51 of the body h, as illustrated in Figure 6, and effect a locking relation between the gate and j the body. Releasing means m are provided for disengaging thelatch carried by the gate fromthe body and said releasing means ineludes a turnable bolt 52- carried between two spaced studs 53'and 54 projectin .from the body It and said bolt carries a latera lyextending member 55 which is received between two furcated ortions 56 and 57 of the body, the said mem r 55 rejecting within the recess 40, as shown in igs. 5 and 6. The top portion of the member 52 carries an eye 58, there being a sleeve member 59 confined and.car-

ried within saideye and ,a yoke member 60 joined to said sleeve member as by. means f of a pin 61 joined with the yoke and passed through said sleeve as indicated in Figure 9 in dotted lines. The yoke 60carries a projecting arm 62. Two ositions of the yoke and .arm are illustrated .in Figures 5, 6 and 8, and it will be observed that the yoke in Figure 8 may be dropped so as to receive with in said-yoke the PIOJBCtiOIl or stud 54, when the yoke is turned sufiiciently so the arin or projecting member 55 will ermit the latch 42 to be entirely received wit in the recess 40.- This of course will-allow for a lockin relation between the gate and body, and 1i ewise ensure that the gate will not be freed from the bodyunless the yoke member is lifted by its handle 62 to such a position that the-yoke may be swung to the left which will move the member 55 so that the same may engage a portion of the latch 42 and force it against the spring in order to free the latch from the body,all as illustrated in Figure 5. In Figure 6 it will be observed that the recess 40 is likewise provided with a stepped recess 63 which may receive the member 55.

The operation of the elevator B is very similar to that of elevator A, in that unless the gate and body are properly latched the tendency will be to swing the gate free from the body, for the latch contacting with thebody Wlll tend to swing the gate from the wherein the gate as in Figures 5 to-9 is re- 0 ceived between two-fur'cated portions 64 and 65 with the hingeconnection which constitutes a pin'39 having a surrounding coil spring 66, one end of which is attached to the pm as at 67 and the other end of which is associated as shown at 68 with the gate, the gate to this end being bored slightly larger than thediameter of the pin and the thickness of the spring. The spring is soarranged that the closing of the gate is resisted, the closing tending to' tighten the bs pring, with the consequence that the gate is at all times swung open unless it is prop erly latched. As before, the gate may be body due to the pressure exerted by the provided with the usual hand grasp 69 for swinging the gate open or shutting the gate.

It-is believed that the operation of this device is entirely clear from the description,

5 and that no .further details are necessary.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications and variations may be made in departure from the foregoing description and disclosure, without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1. A device of'the character disclosed including suspension means, a member adapted to be applied to work and provided with spaced arms adapted to receive said suspension means; in combination-with movably mounted means normally closing the space between said arms and adapted to move to open said space upon engagement by said retaining means with an object on the'movement of said device in one direction; said last named means comprising a finger mounted upon one of said arms and provided with a projection for causing movement of the finger; further means being provided for releasably locking said finger in one position.

2. Adevice of the character disclosed including suspension means, a member adapt ed to be applied to work and provided with spaced arms adapted to receive said suspension means in combination with movably mounted means normally closing the space between said arms and adapted to move to open said space upon engagement by said retaining means with an ob ect on the movement of said, device in one direction; further means being provided for releasably. locking said last named means in one posi:

4Q tion.

3. A device of the character. disclosed, comprising a member adapted to be applied to work and provided with spaced projections; in combination with suspension means adapted "to be applied in part between said projections, an means for retaining said suspension means in position and adapted to're-i. lease said suspension means u on engagement by said retaining means with an object on the movement of the device in one direc- 1 tion; 'means being provided for releasably locking said last named means in one position. a

4. In a device of the character disclosed,

the combination of amember adapted to be applied to the work and suspension means therefor, of a movable member associated with said first named member and adapted in one position to retain said suspension meansin. position in the first named member, and means for releasably holding said movable member in one position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN GRANT. 

